Our Stay in Buena, NJ

New Jersey

November 2025

Driving to Buena, NJ

A visit to Ashbury Park, NJ

A Comeback

I took a break from running while staying in Hopatcong, NJ. After the strenuous climb on the Tammany Loop, I felt a slight discomfort in my knees, so I decided to take an extra rest day to prevent injury. However, when I was ready to run again, I came down with a cold. With freezing temperatures and strong winds, I chose to skip the running here altogether.

Now that we were in the southern part of New Jersey, I finally got out for a slow run on another rail trail near the hotel. After almost a week off, it felt great to be moving again.

A Branch And A Tumble

Two days later, my morning run started perfectly, with crisp, sunny weather. Unfortunately, I tripped over a branch and slid not so graciously onto the ground. This is precisely why I am wary of running on sandy, dirt trails. Just for a moment, I was admiring the surroundings instead of keeping my eyes focused on the ground.

Thankfully, I could continue my run at a slower pace, my focus now continuously on the path to avoid those sneaky roots. I felt deeply relieved that I only had a few minor scratches and bruises.

A Slow Walk's Discovery

After my tumble, I was still a bit bruised and shaken a couple of days later and not ready for a run on this trail. So, on this checkout day, I grabbed my camera and went for a short photoshoot instead. The rail trail itself was just a straight line, pleasant enough, but not particularly spectacular now that most of the leaves had fallen.

What had caught my attention, however, were the little straw-filled shelters for the local ferals. I felt a bit sad for these cats, thinking they should be in a warm, comfy home surrounded by people who spoil, feed, and cuddle them. Yet, it was also heartening to see that these cats had a safe, warm place to stay, now that the temperatures were dropping below freezing at night.